Postdoc position in protein biochemistry (artificial spider silk) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The position is part of a joint collaboration between WASP and the SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS), with the ultimate goal of solving ground-breaking research questions across disciplines.
About the position
We are looking for a postdoc for a project that aims to increase the understanding of how the protein composition of the spider thread relates to its mechanical properties with the ultimate aim to make superstrong artificial silk fibers. The work mainly consists of cloning, expressing protein in E.coli, then purifying and characterizing these. Threads will then be spun from different recombinant protein mixtures and their mechanical properties determined. You will work closely with another postdoc within the same project (employed at KTH, Stockholm), who is working on establishing a machine learning platform to be able to design protein compositions for fibers with predetermined mechanical properties and vice versa. Previous extensive practical and theoretical experience in protein biochemistry and recombinant protein production and purification is a requirement, as is previous publications in peer reviewed international journals.